10 Incredible Train Rides In The World

When you talk about travelling, it’s not about how fast you can reach from one destination to another. It was the overall experience that counts. And this is why boarding a train remains the ideal choice for the ultimate sightseeing trip. Here are the 10 incredible train rides you should consider one day.

1) Trans-Siberian Railway (Russia)

One word: Epic. With a capital “E”. After all, the Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the world’s longest railway routes in the world stretching at an astonishing 9,289 km. The journey takes you through eight time zones from Moscow to Vladivostok. From there, you get to immerse the majestic sight of the Ural Mountains and the world’s largest freshwater lake of Lake Baikal. You can take the classic six-day journey via a public train or experience an eight-day luxury ride aboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, complete with fine dining and other hotel-style of comfort.

Image Credit: planetrail.co.uk

2) The Ghan (Australia)

Experience the amazing scenery of the Australian Outback at the comfort of The Ghan. The 3-day train journey covers a total of 2,978 km, travelling from the north side of Darwin to Adelaide. It passes the likes of the magnificent Red Centre and South Australia’s rolling green hills.

Image Credit: travel-associates.com.au

3) The Glacier Express (Switzerland)

The Glacier Express covers almost 300 km from Zermatt to St. Moritz. It is also famously dubbed as the “world’s slowest express train” since the journey takes around 8 hours for such a length. But the so-called “slow” ride is definitely a must for those who want to enjoy the beautiful vista of the Swiss Alps. Best of all, the panoramic windows ensure you get all the clear views on the train.

Image Credit: cdn.happyrail.com

4) TranzAlpine (New Zealand)

The TranzAlpine is the best way to immerse the utmost scenic train ride in New Zealand. The journey takes 4 1/2 hours from Christchurch to the mining town of Greymouth. Along the way, the train passes the huge plains of Canterbury as well as the aqua-blue waters of the Wiamakariri River and the mountain scenery of the Southern Alps.

Image Credit: greatjourneysofnz.co.nz

5) California Zephyr (California)

The California Zephyr is where you get to view some of North America’s most spectacular landscapes including the Colorado River, Utah desert and the snow-covered mountain range of Sierra Nevada. The 3,938-km journey itself starts from Chicago’s Union Station, crossing through the plains of Nebraska and Sacramento before making its final stop to San Francisco.

Image Credit: nevadagram.com

6) Train To The Clouds (Argentina)

Also known as Tren a las Nubes in Spanish, this Argentina’s famous railway line begins its journey from Salta, situated 1,187 metres above sea level. The train subsequently ascends to a maximum 4,220 metres around the Andes mountain range before concluding the 217-km journey at La Polvorilla. That high-altitude ride itself ranks as the fifth highest railway in the world.

Image Credit: amusingplanet.com

7) The Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)

Immerse the breathtaking sights of the Canadian Rockies aboard the award-winning Rocky Mountaineer train. If you have the budget, go for the GoldLeaf ticket. This is where you get to see the outside views better from the train’s full-length windows on a glass-domed coach.

Image Credit: nuvomagazine.com

8) The Blue Train (South Africa)

1,600 km, and a total of 27-hour journey aboard the luxurious Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town. You can choose the luxury package to enjoy like a king (or queen), complete with a personal butler service and a well-equipped homey suite that has complimentary WiFi, a private entertainment system and a gold-appointed bathroom. And above all, the Blue Train also offers you some of the most stunning landscapes ever seen in South Africa.

Image Credit: bluetrain.co.za

9) Eastern & Orient Express (Thailand)

The Eastern & Orient Express takes you from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station, before passing through Malaysia and ended in Singapore. Over the course of the journey, you will witness the countries’ incredible sights of rice paddies, palm oil plantations and other scenery of greenery.

Image Credit: trailfinders.com

10) Royal Rajasthan On Wheels (India)

Ever wonder what is it like to be treated like royalty? Aboard the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, you can enjoy the luxury of sleeping in the royal suite and indulge in some of the finest Indian delicacies. If that’s not enough, you can even pamper yourself with the onboard spa and massage services. The journey itself is just as magical, departing from New Delhi’s Safdarjung Station and passes through several picturesque sights of palaces and other unique landscapes.

Casey is a freelance writer and a movie enthusiast, where some of his close friends dubbed him as "walking encyclopedia of movies". He also frequently blog movie reviews under "Casey's Movie Mania" (www.caseymoviemania.com)